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Another delay for new ward boundary bylaw

Coun. Stone says Tottenham needs two council seats

BY Maija Hoggett, Staff June 30, 2009 12:06

A last-minute plea from Tottenham Coun. Jim Stone has the official bylaw for readjusting the town ward boundaries put off until next week, when the consultant who made the suggestions can further explain the options.

Last month, New Tecumseth council voted to add an additional councillor to the Alliston area. That would bring the total councillors for the north end of town, including Green Briar/Briar Hill, to four.

For the rest of the town, council voted in favour of having two rural councillors, one for the north end and one for the south, and one councillor each for Tottenham (which currently has two council positions) and Beeton. The mayor and deputy mayor positions would still be elected at large.

When the bylaw for these changes came up at council Monday night, Stone asked to have it deferred until it reflects the future growth for Tottenham and is fair for the entire town.

Stone said he agrees with adding a councillor to the Alliston area. He doesn't agree with how the rest of the town is divided though. His main concern lies in reducing Tottenham to just one councillor and he pointed out the report said 'the estimated population in the Tottenham ward is unacceptable for a single member ward.'

"We talk about fairness in the north end and create an unfairness in the south end," said Stone.

Mayor Mike MacEachern said Stone has a valid point about the option and was in favour of putting off passing the bylaw until next week. The consultant, Robert J. Williams, will attend next week's meeting to further explain the option.

A special council meeting will also be held Monday to pass a bylaw for the ward boundary changes.

The bylaw has to be in place by Jan. 1, 2010 for the 2010 municipal election. The goal was to have the bylaw passed by the end of June to allow the proper time for appeals. With the deferral, the earliest the bylaw can be passed is July 6.

Earlier in the ward review process council was steering towards a different option for the wards.

That direction would have seen one rural councillor cover all rural parts of the town, from Highway 89 to Highway 9, and from the east and west boundaries of the town. Tottenham would have retained its two councillors. There was concern that this option didn't offer fair representation for rural residents.

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